One of my earliest fears was of bodies of water that might be hiding a people-eating shark beneath their calm surfaces. Shark movies fueled this paranoia, constantly reminding my younger self that nature's unpredictable order could strike at any moment.
While the concept of shark movies—vacationers, boaters, or divers being hunted by one or multiple sharks—seems straightforward, many films fail to capture the essence. However, when done right, these films offer an adrenaline-fueled experience that can make you wary of entering any body of water for weeks.
So, grab your Shark Spray. Here are the top 10 best shark movies of all time. For more thrills involving creatures, check out our guide to the greatest monster movies.
Top Shark Movies of All Time
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10. Shark Night (2011)
Image credit: RogueDirector: David R. Ellis | Writer: Will Hayes, Jesse Studenberg | Stars: Sara Paxton, Dustin Milligan, Chris Carmack | Release Date: September 2, 2011 | Review: IGN's Shark Night review | Where to watch: Peacock, free with ads on Pluto TV and The Roku Channel, rent from Apple TV and more
The ratio of "alpha" to "minnow" in shark movies leans heavily towards the negative, which means movies like Shark Night just manage to make the list due to their general competency. In this film, vacationers in the Louisiana gulf are attacked by backwoods maniacs who have taken their Shark Week obsession to the extreme by attaching cameras to ferocious sharks. It's ridiculous—like a Great White jumping out of the water to decapitate someone on a WaveRunner. The original theatrical title, "Shark Night 3D," captures the early 2010s horror vibe it aims for (think popcorn entertainment), and the film successfully delivers that. Credit the late David R. Ellis for this "better with booze" bite of jawesomeness, even if it's not the shiniest lure in the tackle box.
Jaws 2 (1978)
Image credit: Universal PicturesDirector: Jeannot Szwarc | Writer: Carl Gottlieb, Howard Sackler | Stars: Roy Scheider, Lorraine Gary, Murray Hamilton | Release Date: June 16, 1978 | Review: IGN's Jaws 2 review | Where to watch: Rentable on Amazon and other platforms
Jaws 2 may not surpass the original, but it stands out in a thin field of sequels. Roy Scheider returns to protect Amity Island from another Great White shark that begins devouring water skiers and beachgoers. The film is more action-oriented, which led to the original director, John D. Hancock, being replaced because he wasn't suited for such sequences. Despite its issues, Jaws 2 features exploding boats and ample underwater carnage, executed with enough skill to justify its place in the franchise.
Deep Blue Sea 3 (2020)
Image credit: Warner Bros. Home EntertainmentDirector: John Pogue | Writer: Dirk Blackman | Stars: Tania Raymonde, Nathaniel Buzolic, Emerson Brooks | Release Date: July 28, 2020 | Where to watch: Rentable on Amazon and other platforms
Yes, there are two Deep Blue Sea sequels. Deep Blue Sea 3 significantly improves upon the franchise's second installment, returning to the original's sharky goodness. Scientists trying to protect Great White sharks on the artificial island of Little Happy encounter mercenaries and bull sharks that threaten their safety—yes, it's full-on B-movie territory. The film includes martyrdom explosions, action brawls with aerial Bull Shark tag-team action, comical memes turned into character deaths, and one of the most unexpected fin flick victories in recent memory. Kudos to the cast and crew of Deep Blue Sea 3 for delivering a direct-to-video sequel that exceeds expectations and understands its entertainment value.
The Meg (2018)
Image credit: Warner Bros. PicturesDirector: Jon Turteltaub | Writer: Dean Georgaris, Jon Hoeber, Erich Hoeber | Stars: Jason Statham, Li Bingbing, Rainn Wilson | Release Date: August 10, 2018 | Review: IGN's The Meg review | Where to watch: Stream on Amazon Prime Video, rentable on Apple TV and more
Jason Statham versus a 75-foot-long shark from the Mariana Trench? While The Meg might have been better with a more mature rating and tighter storytelling, it delivers as a blockbuster aquatic horror spectacle. As massive Megalodon teeth threaten to shatter dive cages and underwater research facilities, Statham uses his expert diving skills to combat this not-so-extinct predator. A talented cast, including Li Bingbing, Rainn Wilson, Ruby Rose, and Cliff Curtis, tries to prevent the Megalodon from treating beachgoers like appetizers—with varying success. The film blends Kaiju Lite tropes with oddly endearing soap opera dramatics, making a grand splash despite its flaws.
2023 saw the release of The Meg 2, but it didn't meet the original's standards. According to our review, it's "bigger and badder in all the wrong ways," and thus, it doesn't make our list of the best shark films.
Open Water (2003)
Image credit: Lions Gate FilmsDirector: Chris Kentis | Writer: Chris Kentis | Stars: Blanchard Ryan, Daniel Travis, Saul Stein | Release Date: October 26, 2003 | Review: IGN's Open Water review | Where to watch: Hoopla, VIX and VUDU Free (with ads), or rentable on other platforms
Unlike Jaws, which used a mechanical shark, and countless other films that opted for CGI, Open Water uses real sharks to strive for authenticity. Filmmakers Chris Kentis and his wife Laura Lau, avid scuba divers themselves, aimed to capture as much natural behavior as possible. They also served as cinematographers, ensuring the film met their high standards. Open Water stands out from the more entertainment-focused entries on this list, depicting an American couple stranded miles from shore in shark-infested waters. It's not the most action-packed, but it's suspenseful and harrowing.
Bait (2012)
Image credit: Paramount PicturesDirector: Kimble Rendall | Writer: Russell Mulachy, John Kim | Stars: Xavier Samuel, Sharni Vinson, Adrian Pang | Release Date: September 5, 2012 | Where to watch: fuboTV, Starz, or rentable on other platforms
Before Crawl trapped family members in a flooded crawl space with alligators during a category 5 hurricane, Bait trapped patrons and workers inside a supermarket with agitated Great White sharks during a freak tsunami. Australia delivers one of the better recent fin flicks, as survivors use shopping carts to create diving gear and parking lots become hunting grounds. The film blends effects to maintain tense and bloody aquatic thrills, with the action hitting full force. The tsunami interrupts a robbery, forcing criminals and clerks to work together against the swimming killers. Bait matches the quality of Crawl, sitting in the niche subgenre of "When Animals Attack in Trapped Locations During Freak Weather Incidents."
47 Meters Down (2017)
Image credit: Entertainment Studios Motion PicturesDirector: Johannes Roberts | Writer: Johannes Roberts, Ernest Riera | Stars: Mandy Moore, Claire Holt | Release Date: June 12, 2017 | Review: IGN's 47 Meters Down review | Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, or rentable on other platforms
The ticking clock in 47 Meters Down adds panic to an already frantic underwater escape scene. Mandy Moore and Claire Holt play sisters trapped on the ocean floor after a disastrous shark diving expedition, unable to move without attracting the attention of sharks. The film uses the vast, dark ocean as a backdrop, with sharks lunging into the frame, creating a nervy, white-knuckled experience. Despite some reused scare tactics, it highlights the heightened frights of shark cinema.
Deep Blue Sea (1999)
Image credit: Warner Bros.Director: Renny Harlin | Writer: Duncan Kennedy, Donna Powers, Wayne Powers | Stars: Samuel L. Jackson, LL Cool J, Saffron Burrows | Release Date: July 28, 1999 | Review: IGN's Deep Blue Sea review | Where to watch: Rent from Apple TV, Amazon Prime, and more
A movie is good when there’s an LL Cool J song about it. “Deepest, bluest, my hat is like a shark’s fin” encapsulates the 90s outrageousness of Deep Blue Sea, a film about genetically enhanced Mako sharks and the consequences of corporate greed. A talented cast fights to escape their creation, but even Samuel L. Jackson can't avoid becoming another victim. While the late 90s CGI has some flaws, the practical shark effects in flooded hallways and kitchens are impressive. Deep Blue Sea embraces creature-feature "nonsense" in the best way, showcasing karma’s razor-sharp teeth.
The Shallows (2016)
Image credit: Sony PicturesDirector: Jaume Collet-Serra | Writer: Anthony Jaswinski | Stars: Blake Lively | Release Date: June 21, 2016 | Review: IGN's The Shallows review | Where to watch: Starz, or rent on Amazon and other platforms
Blake Lively faces off against an imposing shark in The Shallows. Jaume Collet-Serra, one of the most skilled contemporary blockbuster filmmakers, takes a few key locations (rock formation, water, buoy) and ratchets up the tension. Lively’s performance against a convincingly terrifying CGI shark makes The Shallows a standout. The film dives into an unfathomably hopeless scenario, delivering intense, unrelenting suspense.
Jaws (1975)
Image credit: Universal PicturesDirector: Steven Spielberg | Writer: Peter Benchley, Carl Gottlieb | Stars: Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss | Release Date: June 20, 1975 | Review: IGN's Jaws review | Where to watch: Rentable on Amazon and other platforms
Steven Spielberg revolutionized the summer blockbuster with Jaws, the undisputed king of shark cinema. Despite challenges with the animatronic Great White, Spielberg's persistence paid off with a box office haul of $476.5 million. Jaws masterfully builds suspense, saving its biggest moments for the perfect time. This New England tale of summertime chaos shows what happens when a mayor prioritizes tourist revenue over public safety, with scenes like Alex Kintner's attack still haunting audiences. Decades later, Jaws remains the best shark movie of all time.
AnswerSee ResultsLooking for more horror movies with teeth? Take a look at our guide to the best vampire movies of all time next or dive into our favorite dinosaur movies.Upcoming Shark Movies
For those eager for more shark movies, several are in the works or have been announced. Here are some of the most anticipated upcoming shark movies:
- Fear Below - May 15, 2025
- Beneath the Storm - August 1, 2025
- High Tide - TBC
- Dangerous Animals - TBC
When Is Shark Week in 2025?
Shark Week 2025 will take place from July 6 to July 13, 2025, with the Discovery Channel set to air a variety of shark-related content.
